Dogs in the office

Well no. Because the person who is, for example, blind, cannot take a tablet and suddenly see.

Mild to moderate allergy can be mitigated by antihistamines. Severe allergy would be triggered even if dogs weren’t present but dander was on clothing. Very few people are so allergic that they can’t continue normal life and most of these will end up being unable to work outside the home sadly.

However, to get back to your AIBU, yes, you are, because you can take tablets and will be fine. Consider yourself more fortunate than my DB who will never see his DC again.

I ask again. Did you declare your disability?

Or by not employing one of them. You didn't declare this "severe" allergy to dogs, did you?

YANBU OP - at the very least you should have been informed when offered the job that there was a dog in the office and did that cause you any concerns.

Many people have allergies and other are frightened of dogs. The workplace is not an appropriate place with them unless every single person working there is in agreement with it.

In our major global corporation they are trialling dogs in once per week.

People have raised concerns about their allergies getting worse - were told office was fully cleaned and they could just avoid coming in that day ( we have new in office targets so that's not realistic for many people) .

Pictures of one of the dogs actually sitting on an office chair - just not appropriate, and is the extra cleaning even going to cover that.

In our place its all just a massive attempt to try and detract attention that they're getting rid of all the actual things that impact people's happiness at work - flexible working and wfh - with some free jazzy attempt to seem cool.

It might be different in a non office environment.

I have a dog btw.

I don’t like dogs.
It seems very unpopular to say that but that’s how I feel.
I’m not comfortable around them, don’t enjoy them jumping up at me, I get quite frightened and I don’t like getting slobber on me or the smell of dogs.
I would not want to work in an office that had a dog/dogs there all the time. I’d be upset if I found myself in this position too OP. I guess there’s not much you can do though.

I wasn’t replying to you. I was responding to a comment by somebody else on the thread that an assistance dog would be different. So my comment remains relevant to the quote I made, thank you.

And yes but as you’ve said, you don’t plan on raising it. I do believe this will increasingly frustrate you though.

Hmm. I see. So in your own words you have a mild allergy to dogs. Given the number of people with disabilities who have service dogs, I assume that you ask at every interview whether there are service dogs in the workplace and then demand the right to work from home?

My service dog loves mackerel and kippers...

Oh I wish they allowed dogs in my workplace! As you don't stroke the dog you should be fine - I am allergic to cats - I am ok in the same room but can’t stroke them !

And whilst many claimed hypoallergenic dogs are not, I can confirm that some definitely are. Such dogs were deliberately bred as service dogs for people with allergies. Even the guy who originally succeeded in this isn't a big fan, but they do exist so you are wrong on that point.

I always have doubts about these "entitled dog owner" threads. I haven't yet ever come across an office that allows dogs unless they are service dogs, and no service dog would roam. But in this case the person bringing their dog had to have permission - is a bit bloody hard to hide the fact. So if their employer has given permission, then it is neither entitled nor an assumption.

In which case, I assume the OP filled it in and can request an OH assessment and ask for reasonable adjustments

But if someone’s allergic to dogs or scared of them, then that will still be the case if the dogs an assistance dog or not surely?

I think personally anything out of the norm should be mentioned at, our prior, to the first interview and then each person can decide whether they are the right ‘fit’.

@banjocat

You have my sympathy. At the very least this is something that you should have been told about in advance so that you could have decided whether or not to take the job.

As an employer, over the years I have had people ask if they could bring their dog to work and I have always said no. I don't think its appropriate in the first place and its unfair to those who have allergies, or just don't like dogs, to expect them to have to share their space with dogs.

Although assistance dogs are the exception of course.

I just think it was a bit shit of management not to have a conversation about it and give me a heads up, and most people who have voted agree with me, which is what I was interested to know.

I've often wondered this about the Civil Service and No.10 cats. Lots of people have cat allergies...are they just not able to go in particular parts of the building etc and avoid the bits where the cats lurk? Did they warn people before they got the cats? Is there a risk assessment etc?

I think you have the right to complain but it's up to you to tell them you have an allergy, they might be accommodating. I don't think I've ever been asked if I've got allergies in a new job so I don't think the onus is on them

Taxi drivers are allergic to a lot of things, such as payment other than in cash, for example. Not a good comparison.

Sensible consultation could have taken place, I am sure the OP would have then mentioned how a dog affects her, and I guess would have been happy for the dog to be in the office on a lead or somehow not to come near her.

Mine’s not on that list, as I say we researched quite thoroughly but maybe it is hit and miss for some people.

Still interested to know what you would have done if you were aware at interview? Purely curiosity on my part.

People say Labra-doodles are hypoallergenic. Yet I’m allergic to them.

Theres a middle ground here. You can raise it without complaining and suggest there are rules about dogs the office, ie that they aren’t allowed to roam freely.

We have a much loved office visiting dog but every time I’m on my period she runs up to me and shoves her nose in my crotch the moment I walk in the door. It’s so embarrassing and I just say to the owner “can you call your dog back please?”. You can do this, sneeze and say “I love doggo but I’m a bit allergic, can you call her back please?” Do it publicly and loudly so that she can’t undermine you

If the dog was going before you worked there then I don't think you can start kicking up a fuss due to a mild allergy. I have a friend who is mildly allergic and takes an antihistamine if she is coming over, then she is fine? I don't really see why you think they should have checked you were ok with the dog being there if they have a dog friendly policy.

I love dogs but don’t currently own one, but I don’t think they belong in an office environment.

I used to work in an office where the CEO brought her Labrador to work and it would go around snaffling the staff’s food out of their handbags and off desks etc if they weren’t careful enough. The CEO thought it was hilarious and would just give staff some money to replace their lunch. The dog was rather portly needless to say and the staff mostly hated having the dog around even though he was friendly.